Jamaica's security minister, Peter Bunting, has condemned the killing of 8-year old British girl Imani Green.

He told the Jamaica Gleaner newspaper: "The senseless killing of a young, innocent child must outrage all well-thinking Jamaicans, and cause us to join our security forces in an intensified effort to rid our communities of criminals."

Anne Wilson, head teacher of Fircroft Primary School in Tooting, has paid tribute to pupil Imani Green, who was shot dead in Jamaica during a family visit to the country.

She said: "The entire Fircroft School community is deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic news of the death of our pupil Imani Green. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family to whom we pledge our continuing love and support.

Imani Green, 8, was shot dead in the town of Duncans in Trelawny, northern Jamaica. Credit: Family handout

“Imani was a happy, playful child who was popular with staff and pupils alike. She suffered from sickle cell anaemia and we had to take great care to protect her from the cold, which could adversely and dramatically worsen her condition.

"She dealt with her illness very bravely and coped well with the special arrangements we had to have in place to support her.

"She had been given special permission to travel to Jamaica so that she could benefit from the warmer climate and we had been in contact with the local primary school she was attending whilst there to make sure she was receiving an appropriate education.

“We are now in the process of contacting all the families of children in the same year group to break this terrible news to them and we will be taking steps to offer support and counselling to all those children and staff who are affected by this terrible tragedy.”

Speaking to ITV News, Imani's uncle Mitchum Brown described her as a "quiet, lovely, friendly girl" who had only just begun to grow in confidence.

Mr Brown explained how Imani had sickle cell anaemia as well as a hole in her heart, and how she would travel to Jamaica every winter with her family because the warm weather helped with her conditions.

He says Imani was an innocent victim of Friday's shooting and believes the gunman was taking revenge over a dispute with the cafe owner, who is Imani's cousin.